Amid the ongoing nationwide controversy over SIR, the State Election Commission has taken major action in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit over allegations of irregularities in the voter list. So far, an FIR has been registered against 3 people, including 2 SDMs.

How did the action come about?

On receiving complaints of irregularities in the voter list, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa took cognisance of the matter and shared the information with the Pilibhit District Magistrate. Following this, an FIR was registered against 2 SDMs and one other person.

Directions for action had already been issued

Alleging irregularities concerning 16,554 voters in the voter list of the Pilibhit Sadar assembly constituency, Congress leaders had questioned the role of the Election Commission. The party had also said it would approach the court in this matter.

Later that evening, after the inquiry confirmed the irregularities, Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa directed that the Electoral Registration Officer and the VRC operator of the Pilibhit assembly constituency be immediately removed from all voter list-related work and that legal action be taken against them.